The first thing that comes to my mind when someone mentions Jackson Hole –is backcountry skiing. Upon arrival in the sleek new Jackson Hole airport in the midst of the Teton Range (part of the Rocky Mountains between Wyoming and Idaho), I quickly learned that there was much more to Jackson Hole than just the winter activities. What I did find was an incredibly welcoming group of unassuming world class athletes and sport enthusiasts, who were just waiting to share their hometown hospitality with me. 

Singapore has been on my travel list since before the movie, Crazy Rich Asians was released in theaters.  The city/country has always been a mystery to me and I never had the opportunity to visit until they recently re-opened their doors to tourists. It was an obvious choice transiting through on our way back home from our Nepalese adventure. 

A trek to Everest Base camp involves a fair bit of preparation, even more so if you are not going with an Expedition company (I chose G Adventures). Being a novice to multiple day hikes (even summiting Mt. Fuji was just overnight), I knew I was going to have my work cut out for me.

A trek to Everest Base camp involves a fair bit of preparation, even more so if you are not going with an Expedition company (I chose G Adventures). Being a novice to multiple day hikes (even summiting Mt. Fuji was just overnight), I knew I was going to have my work cut out for me.

It was late morning when our trekking group reached the colorful, traditional gate that marks the start of the Sagarmatha National Park. The Nepalese word for Mount Everest is Sagarmatha. It  has many meanings, like “Sky” and “Head” or “Goddess of the Sky”.  The Tibetan name for Mount Everest is Chomolungma, which means "Goddess Mother of the World." I was about to find the relevance of these names as I embarked on my journey to Base Camp and see, for my own eyes, the majestic Mount Everest.